State chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered in Abuja on Thursday for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, only to find the party secretariat largely empty. Despite this, they informed journalists of plans to hold separate meetings with party leadership and the Federal Government to discuss the economic challenges faced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidies.
The NEC and National Caucus meetings, previously scheduled for September 11 and 12, were postponed indefinitely, reportedly due to President Bola Tinubu’s unavailability. APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and other National Working Committee (NWC) members were also absent at the secretariat.
Alfonsus Ogar, the APC Cross River State Chairman and Forum Secretary, emphasized that their visit was to update the media on party matters and ongoing efforts to address the crises in Benue and Rivers states. He reassured that the party is not indifferent to the hardships caused by recent economic policies such as the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira.
Ogar also confirmed that the chairmen are planning a closed-door meeting with both party leadership and the Federal Government to address the concerns. “We are not unaware of the complaints, and until these matters are properly addressed, it would be premature to disclose further details,” Ogar said.
Meanwhile, the National Deputy Organizing Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, explained that many state chairmen had already arrived in Abuja before learning of the postponement. Additionally, Cornelius Ojelabi, chairman of the Forum of APC State Chairmen, expressed condolences to the family of the late Oyo APC Chairman, Isaac Omodewu, and offered support to victims of the recent Borno floods. Ojelabi also praised the decision to extend the tenure of the Rivers State caretaker committee led by Chief Tony Okocha.
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